AfterWork: The District Lounge in Orange

All of the dark-haired women in this photo are celebrating their 30th birthday at The District. Her name is Alexis Rocha. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Angie and Ashley are not here to protect, but they definitely are here to serve. They serve beer, wine, shooters, appetizers and anything else on the menu. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Unless you have trouble with your short-term memory, you'll probably remember the 30th birthday from the previous photo. Well, these are five more friends of the birthday girl. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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These friends managed to hold a conversation in a room vibrating with music supplied by a DJ. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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These friends were lounging on one of the bar's pool tables that is covered up and pushed aside after happy hour to make room for a dance floor. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Seats are scarce once the nightspot transforms into a club, but no one seems to mind. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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This couple didn't even get a chance to walk into the place before they were accosted by a guy with a camera. But they were good sports about it. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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They weren't smiling just for the photo. They were already smiling when I asked them to smile for the camera. Happy people. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On Thursday and Friday nights, the chefs from Dragon Dogs set up a grill on the outdoor patio to hawk their bacon-wrapped dogs. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Elisa is sitting under a framed pin-up, which is part of the lounge atmosphere at The District. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Celebrating a birthday, but not one of their own. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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They're married, so it's OK that they're standing so close together. Note the jukebox in the background. It works. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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These women were having a very good time, and isn't that the whole point? BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Here's Alexis, the birthday girl, again. We had to take another photo because one of her friends missed the first photo. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On Mondays, you can build your own burger for half the normal price. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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There aren't many booths, but I noticed that they turn over frequently, so if you're patient, good things can come. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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This couple was dancing up a storm, but weather patterns remained stable. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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This is one of my favorite bar decorations. I've heard it's a real sign from another era and another place, but I don't know the history. Let me know if you have the 4-1-1. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Matt and Justina have access to alcohol - they're bartenders. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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No seats, no problem for these friends. Seats are for wimps. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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We captured this couple as they were capturing images in the bar's arcade-style photo booth. This story is still developing. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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This couple was nice. Not like their friend who refused to let us photograph her. We're just teasing. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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See the Clippers hat? These women were agonizing over the team's Friday-night loss. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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There's a funny story attached to these people, which I'll tell you in a later photo with the entire group of friends. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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There's that jukebox again. Obviously, it's not turned on when the DJ is working. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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There's someone missing from this photo - a young woman who prefers to take photos of herself with her smart phone. Even her friends didn't understand her sudden shyness. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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They said it was "Girl's Night Out," so what's the guy doing there? He's their designated driver, and he dutifully drank soft drinks all night. Now, that's a righteous dude. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The beer-battered burrito, which includes a spicy Croatian roasted red pepper spread, is one of the many new items that have been added to the menu. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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I'm not sure whether these friends are aware of it, but The District offers a late-night happy hour on Thursdays. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

If you asked me for a nightlife recommendation, and I suggested that you check out the post office in Orange, you might think that I had gone postal.

But you would be assuming that I was talking about the current post office, and not the city's original post office from the 1920s.

If you walked into the historic building that housed the early 20th century post office, you would find yourself in The District Lounge, which delivers on many fronts, but not the mail.

The District is a dance-and-DJ hot spot Thursdays-Saturdays, and offers one of the county's only seven-day-a-week happy hours (2-7 p.m., with an extended happy hour on Thursdays to 10 p.m.). Regrettably, the bar has no food discounts during happy hour, but makes up for that with its popular Monday-night "Build-your-own-burger" offering, and the Tuesday "All-you-can-eat" tacos for $5.

The former post office (the original vault is now used for liquor storage) has taken on the look of a speakeasy lounge (lots of red velvet and framed photos of pin-ups on the wall), and the menu has undergone a serious renovation.

Most of your favorites are still there – it's a burger, burrito, sandwich and salad kind of place - but they have been raising eyebrows and tantalizing taste buds with some interesting variations on a theme, including beer-battered burritos, potato tacos, potato bacon cheddar spring rolls, Irish nachos and the eye-popping "Lava Burger," in which the cheese is infused inside the burger.

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